RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

Since every reunited band needs a good home, Metal Blade Records has signed reactivated Pennsylvania-based thrashers Believer, through Howard Jones' (Killswitch Engage) imprint label Cesspool Recordings. Goddamn, a lot of musicians have their own labels/imprints these days. Back on point, their fourth (and forthcoming) album Gabriel is scheduled for worldwide release on March 17th and sees original members Kurt Bachman (vocals/guitar) and Joey Daub (drums) joined by new members Jeff King (keyboards/programming), Kevin Leaman (guitar), and Elton Nestler (bass/programming). I've only heard bits of 1993's highly-regarded Dimensions, but was impressed enough to be anxiously awaiting this one, even if they are considered a Christian band.

http://www.myspace.com/believerband

The mighty, reunited Carcass will return to the United States in March for the Exhumed to Consume II tour. The follow up to last year's highly successful Exhume to Consume tour will feature Suicide Silence, Samael, Arsis, and Psycroptic, plus a few special guests on select dates. The tour will also include headlining appearances at the California Metal Fest and Texas's Metal Up Your Ass Festival. If you missed last year's run (with Suffocation, 1349, Aborted, and Rotten Sound), I strongly suggest you make the effort this time. To be fair, though, I may not, since the local date is at the same shitty venue as last time and I can't imagine the show being much different - not to mention that it interferes with my weekly radio duties.

http://www.myspace.com/carcass

California tech-death metallers Decrepit Birth are in pre-production mode for their third album, to be entitled Polarity. The follow up to last year's critically acclaimed Diminishing Between Worlds (which I seem to have seriously missed the boat on) marks the band's first release for Nuclear Blast Records and is tentatively set for a Summer 2009 release. Production and tracking will once again be handled by guitarist Matt Sotelo at his own Legion Studios, with mixing duties to be taken care of by Zach Ohren. I think right now its easier to count the albums that Ohren is NOT involved with, as he seems to be everywhere these days.

http://www.myspace.com/decrepitbirth

One of the concert highlights for me in 2008 was the PaganFest USA tour, so I was pretty stoked when I heard that a second installment was being planned. Now tour organizers Rock The Nation have announced that the lineup for this year's traveling spectacle will include Finland's folk freaks Korpiklaani headlining, the return of Switzerland's Eluveitie, Ireland's Primordial, Finland's Moonsorrow, Canada's Blackguard (formerly known as Profugus Mortis), and New Jersey USA's crazy pirate metal drunks Swashbuckle as the opening party starters. This will be more than just another live show - it will be an EVENT. It's a cheap joke, but I'll make it anyway - it's time to go get folked up!

For more info on the tour, please visit:
http://www.paganfest.net
http://www.myspace.com/paganfestusa

Even before the tour kicks off, Eluvetie will release their new folk/acoustic album, Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion, on April 10 in Europe and tentatively in the Spring in the US via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will feature guest appearances by Oliver S. Tyr of Faun and Alan A. Nemtheanga of touring partners Primordial, among others. It will contain 15 folk songs, most of them written in ancient gaulish language, and will mark the recording debut of new members Paede Kistler (bagpipes/whistles/acoustic guitars) and Kay Brem (bass). In case you missed it, last year's Slania ranked in my top albums for the year, and I'm eager to see if they can deliver the goods acoustically.

http://www.eluveitie.ch/
http://www.myspace.com/eluveitie

Meanwhile, Korpiklaani has set Karkelo (English translation: "Party" - how fitting) as the title of their next album, tentatively due this Summer via Nuclear Blast Records.

http://www.korpiklaani.com
http://www.myspace.com/korpiklaaniofficial

As if that weren't enough, Nuclear Blast has extended their domination of this tour with the announcement that they have signed both Swashbuckle (who do a mean "Spongebob Squarepants" cover) and Blackguard as a result of winning the label's MySpace Band Contest. Also selected was Canadian progressive death metal act Augury.

http://www.myspace.com/swashbuckle
http:// www.myspace.com/blackguard
http:// www.myspace.com/augury

God Dethroned has wrapped up work on their new album, Passiondale. The album was recorded as a 3-piece and sees vocalist/guitarist Henri Sattler and bassist Henke Zinger reuniting with original drummer Roel Sanders, who replaced Arien van Weesenbeek following his decision to join countrymen Epica full-time. Once the album was completed, they were free to seek a new guitarist to fill the void left by the departed Issac Delahaye, and have announced his replacement as Susan Gerl (Murder Syndicate). Passiondale is scheduled for an April 27th release in North America. God Dethroned has long been one of my favorite death metal bands and I hope this album hits me harder than The Toxic Touch did.

http://www.goddethroned.com/
http://www.myspace.com/villavampiria

Abigail Williams have embarked on a 3-week run of headlining dates as they continue to tour behind their recently released full-length debut, In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (Candlelight Records), which Metal Maniacs describes as "an unholy alliance between the beauty of the keyboards and the beast of speed." Tour support will be provided by Rose Funeral, Burning the Masses, and The Breathing Process. What's the matter, boys - not big on the Bay Area?!

http://www.myspace.com/abigailwilliams

I've always thought of Poland-based Selfmadegod Records as just a grind/crust label, so I was surprised to hear that their most recent signings are Polish one-man alternative metal band Egoist and mathcore/metal band Mothra.

Egoist was founded in 2008 by the very young and enormously talented Stanislaw Wolonciej (guitars, bass, drums, vocals, synthesizers, production, artwork) to create music that was a little more aggressive, much more alternative, and less progressive than his previous endeavors. The debut album, Ultra-Selfish Revolution, will be released in the Spring. The whole "one man band" thing seems to work well for creepy black metal, but can it also work for this genre?

http://www.egoist.metal.pl/
http://www.myspace.com/egoistpoland

Mothra has been destroying stages since 2000 with Piotr Koryzma (vocals), Daniel Szwed (drums), Andrzej Burzynski (bass) and Pawel Stefan Rosiak (guitar) on board, and released their debut album, Planet Decidelian, in May 2006. After touring with bands as varied as Modern Life is War, Maroon, Born From Pain, Omission, First Blood, Napalm Death, and Suffocation, the band is ready to unleash their sophomore effort, Dyes, in the Spring. I for one am always skeptical of a band when their press release makes prominent notice of their touring partners, so we'll just have to see if they can back it up.

http://www.myspace.com/mothra

Slayer and Marilyn Manson (fuck, it wasn't even that good of an idea the last time) will co-headline this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour, which is scheduled to kick off July 10 in Sacramento, California.

The festival billing is as follows:

Main Stage: Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Bullet For My Valentine

Hot Topic Stage: Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Job for a Cowboy, Behemoth, Whitechapel

Jagermeister Stage: Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid, + Jagermeister "Battle of the Bands" winner (regionally)

The bid moves to you, Sharon, to beat this hand and I implore you too seek out bands who have NOT done the summer festival thing before. It's like the same bands get these tours every year! Then again, there have been so many damn festivals lately that that list keeps getting shorter and shorter. At any rate, visit http://www.mayhemfest.com for tour itinerary, updates, and more information.

Candlelight Records has extended their cooperation with Chicago-based Battle Kommand Records (founded by Nachtmystium vocalist/guitarist Blake Judd) to include marketing and distribution of the label's catalog around the globe. The deal was previously in place for only the European territory. Nachtmystium's back catalog will be the first to find reissue under the new deal: Reign of the Malicious, Nachtmystium, The First Attacks, Demise, and Instinct: Decay will be in stores on April 21. Although I've warmed to the band with Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. I, I'm in no hurry to catch up. Aside from that, reissues from Krieg, Obscurus Advocam, and Glorior Belli (among others) will follow shortly thereafter. Bonus material is planned on many of the reissues with specifics to be confirmed at a later date. This will either make the black metal kids very happy that they can get these albums, or very sad that everybody else can, too.

http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com/
http://www.battlekommand.com/

Italian "horror metal" band Cadaveria recently added guitarist Dick Laurent to their lineup. The band is hard at work writing material for their fourth full-length album, which purportedly be "filled with surprises and obscurity." How one fills an album with obscurity was not explained as of press time.

http://www.cadaveria.com
http://www.myspace.com/cadaveriaband

Metal Blade Records has announced that they have signed Las Vegas' Molotov Solution to a deal. Their debut effort for the label was tracked by Kelly Cairns and mixed by the duo of Tim Lambesis and Daniel Castleman at Lambesis Studios in San Diego, CA. Mastering was handled by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. The album is tentatively slated for release this summer. You know, I always hear about Metal Blade signing bands, but I never hear anything when they drop a band - they just sort of stop putting out their records. Just an observation.

http://www.myspace.com/molotovsolution

This month, Southern Lord will release the vinyl-only version of the new Wolves In The Throne Room EP Malevolent Grain, which will feature two brand new tracks from the organic black metallers. Conspiracy Records will offer a limited edition picture disc of the 12" for Europe, while Southern Lord will release a black 180-gram version worldwide (oooh, vinyl - how kvit!) In addition, the band will press a limited CD version for tour purposes only. Wolves in the Throne Room's third full-length release, Black Cascade, will follow on March 31st on Southern Lord Records. The new recordings are the first to feature guitarist Will Lindsay (Middian), who had previously served as the band's touring bass player, alongside longtime members the brothers Weaver (Nathan and Aaron). The band will be embarking on a European tour along with three select US dates, while more extensive touring through 2009 is also imminent. This sort of release behavior reeks of pretension, but I'll bet I'd see it differently if I gave a crap.

http://www.wittr.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wolvesinthethroneroom

Candlelight Records has announced the signing of Denver-based thrashers Havok. The band is currently finishing work on their debut album Burn, which is slated for release in early spring. The band states, "This is the break we've been working towards, and now that it's finally here, we're more than ready to make the most of it. We are both psyched and humbled to be a part of the Candlelight roster."

Formed in 2004, Havok have sold out the limited pressings of two independent releases (PWN ‘Em All and Murder By Metal) and shared stages with such heavy hitters as Destruction, Into Eternity, and Cephalic Carnage, as well as completing a tour with fellow new thrashers Bonded By Blood. I can actually vouch for this band having witnessed their attack at last year's Tidal Wave Festival where they received the biggest response of any band not named Exodus or Hirax.

http://www.myspace.com/havok

Biclops, featuring past and present members of The Postman Syndrome, East Of The Wall, and Day Without Dawn, will enter the studio in March to record their debut full-length for a yet to-be-determined label. Recording and mixing will be handled at The Machine Shop by producer Will Putney. The band will also be on tour for various short runs in through May, with several shows already booked.

In addition, two new releases from The Postman Syndrome are planned for the coming year. First up is the long awaited summer release of The Postman Syndrome's demos for an unreleased record that were scrapped when the band's former label, Now Or Never Records, folded in 2004. Then, original members Mike Somers (East Of The Wall), Matt Lupo (East Of The Wall), Chris Alfano (Biclops), and Brett Bamberger (Biclops / East Of The Wall) will join forces with Kevin Conway (Biclops / East Of The Wall) to compose new Postman Syndrome material once the Biclops album is completed. The current plan is to release two or three new songs on a split or an EP in late 2009 or early 2010. This all seems just a bit too complicated . . .

http://www.biclops.net/
http://www.myspace.com/biclopsisaband

Exodus has announced that drummer extraordinaire Nick Barker (ex-Cradle of Filth/Testament/Dimmu Borgir) will be sitting behind the kit on their upcoming European tour with Overkill. Don't worry, though - there's nothing wrong with drummer Tom Hunting. He's just got some family matters to attend to, namely a well-deserved (and long planned) Mexican vacation and will be back with the band for their spring tour with Kreator. I remember when Nick Barker used to actually be in bands and not just fill in with them. What would be really fun, though, is to see him go up against Gene Hoglan in a sumo wrestling match. Eww - sumo diapers. Scratch that!

http://www.exodusattack.com
http://www.myspace.com/exodus

Hammerfall will release their eighth full-length album, No Sacrifice, No Victory, on February 20 via longtime label Nuclear Blast Records. This will make the studio debut of new guitarist Pontus Norgren, who replaced the departed Stefan Elmgren. The album was recorded in part at Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden. As long as they stick to their story, expect nothing less than a full-blown, gloriously over-the-top metal attack, including at least one track with the word "hammer" in it.

http://www.hammerfall.net
http://www.myspace.com/hammerfall

Swedish doom legends Candlemass will release their new album, Death Magic Doom, on March 27 in Europe and (North American release TBA) via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's second studio album with vocalist Rob Lowe (Solitude Aeternus), who was recruited following the dismissal of Messiah Marcolin follwing the band's 2005 self-titled release, will contain 8 new tracks covering the usual topics of immortality, depressions, demons, vampires, funerals and the almighty devil.

http://www.candlemass.se/
http://www.myspace.com/candlemass

Bay Area spazzes NAME (New Approach to Martyrs Expressions) have announced that they have signed a deal with Lifeforce Records. The band is continuing to work on their new album, Internet Killed the Audio Star, with eyes on a summer release. The irony of this is that several of the regional bands that shit on them for years are either unsigned or broken up. Ain't karma a bitch? Also, they will embark on a short string of West Coast dates in March alongside Battlefields and Irepress, which will be followed by a run with Syrens.

http://www.myspace.com/name

Extreme metal legends Suffocation recently entered the studio to begin recording their six full-length album and Nuclear Blast Records debut, Blood Oath. The follow up to their self-titled 2006 release will once again be recorded with Joe Cincotta, whom they worked with on their previous two releases, with mixing duties being handled by Zack Ohren. Tentative song titles include "Dismal Dream," "Confines of Disillusion," "Come Hell Or High Priest," and "Provoking the Disturbed."

http://www.suffocation.us
http://www.myspace.com/suffocation

Death Angel is pleased to announce the addition of bassist Sammy Diosdado, "the first white guy to ever play in Death Angel." The Bay Area native, formerly of The Sick and currently with All Time Highs (which also features DA vocalist Mark Osegueda), replaces recently departed original bassist Dennis Pepa. In March, the band heads over to Australia for a string of dates with Armored Saint, and is looking to squeeze in some West Coast dates before that.

http://www.deathangel.com
http://www.myspace.com/deathangel

All Shall Perish will be headlining a short West Coast tour starting in late February with Abigail Williams, Suffokate, Underneath The Gun, and Conducting From The Grave. According to the band, fans can expect to hear all of their favorite songs "and some gems we can't normally play on uptight package tours!"

This will be followed almost immedietly by the Atticus Metal tour, also featuring Emmure and Winds of Plague co-headlining, as well as Terror, The Ghost Inside, and special guests on select dates Shai Hulud, Underneath the Gun, and Abacabb. I think All Shall Perish are great, but sometimes their touring partners just don't compute. At least Abigail Williams is forced to come to the Bay Area this time.

http://www.allshallperish.com/
http://www.myspace.com/allshallperish

Lamb of God has teamed up with No Fear Energy for their North American tour in support of their upcoming fifth studio album Wrath, which will be released by Epic Records on February 24th. The 36-date tour commences in Phoenix, AZ on April 2nd and concludes in Myrtle Beach, SC on May 15th. Tour support will come from As I Lay Dying and Children of Bodom, with the opening slot rotating between God Forbid and Municipal Waste. Another damn energy drink-sponsored package tour. Can't big tours happen just for the hell of it anymore?

http://www.lamb-of-god.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lambofgod
http://www.nofear.com

Austrian blackened death metal darlings Belphegor are in the final stages of the writing process for their upcoming album, the follow up to last year's Bondage Goat Zombie. Actually, the band starting writing the new one just after that album's release, so don't be surprised if there are some similarities. I'd actually be more surprised if there weren't. Regardless, it is tentatively scheduled for a worldwide release in the fall via Nuclear Blast Records.

http://www.belphegor.at/
http://www.myspace.com/belphegor

Pennsylvanian thrash metal band Mantic Ritual (formerly Meltdown), fresh off of tours supporting Exodus and Rotting Christ, will release their debut album, Executioner, on February 27th (Europe) and March 10 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Andy Classen's Stage One Studio in Germany. I'm not sure if they're old enough to buy beer, but they're old enough to kick your ass with that old school sound.

http://www.myspace.com/manticritual

Bleed the Sky has announced a February headlining tour with support from Straight Line Stitch and Flatline. The tour is an extension of sorts of the band's annual St. Valentines Day Massacre show in their hometown of Oklahoma City, OK. Unfortunately, the band was not able to secure the sponsorship of Frank's Red Hot Sauce they had been seeking. For tour dates and more info, you can visit their MySpace page.

http://www.myspace.com/bleedthesky

Get your band in the next Shred Report - Email your latest band news, tour updates and studio news to The Mad Man - news@raginpitmagazine.com